80-Year-Old Man Shoots Pregnant Woman Dead After She Breaks Into His House

A California retiree believes he has a right to protect his home and belongings -- even if it means shooting dead a woman who tried to rob his house but claimed she was pregnant.

Tom Greer, 80, says he returned to his nice home in the affluent Bixby Knolls neighborhood in Long Beach to find a man and woman had broken in and were in the middle of a burglary. Greer says the couple tackled him to the ground. Thinking he was down, he says the alleged burglars started to go through his safe. In the meantime, he was able to get a hold of his .22-Caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and didn't take mercy on the woman, whom he said shouted, "Don't shoot me, I'm pregnant! I'm going to have a baby!"

Greer says the man and woman began running when they noticed he had a gun. But he took aim anyway and fired twice, hitting the pregnant woman, whose identity hasn't been revealed. She reportedly died in an alley behind his home while trying to escape. Her male accomplice, meanwhile, left her there and continued to run. Police are still searching for the suspect.

The homeowner says it was the first time he had ever shot anyone, but that he has no regrets about doing so -- whether the woman was pregnant or not. He went as far as saying he hopes the fact that she was shot leaves an impression on her accomplice's mind for the rest of his days.

An extreme reaction? Perhaps. But let's look at what actually happened. This man arrived home and strangers were going through his things. They tackled him and caused him physical harm -- he reportedly suffered a collarbone and shoulder injury. He had no way of knowing how dangerous they were, whether they were armed, or what they were capable of doing to him. And it doesn't sound like his presence did a thing to encourage them to run for the hills -- it wasn't until they saw that gun that they got moving.

As for the woman pleading for her life because she was pregnant -- I am sad for her unborn baby who didn't deserve what happened. But why hadn't she thought of the health of her baby when she decided to do something as risky and foolish as break into a person's home and commit a crime while pregnant?

Do you think this homeowner should be charged for shooting the alleged pregnant burglar dead?